Posts Tagged ‘Steal Your Wedding’
Cheap Without Being Cheap
So you finally have the ring on your finger and now you have the whole wedding ahead of you. In a perfectly traditional world you are not shouldering the main cost of your big day. But the world isn’t traditional, and more and more people are finding themselves digging into their wallet and grabbing plastic. But starting off the first day after the honeymoon with the realization you still have to pay for it all and deal with his dirty laundry all over the floor and it will hit you — the honeymoon is over.
However, your marriage doesn’t have to be an additional bill. Here are three simple suggestions to get you think
ing creatively on how to steal your wedding.
1.) Craig is a good friend.
Craigslist is not only good for finding jobs, rooms for rent, and escort services. Our buddy Craig has all the hookups at a negotiable price you can afford. A quick search will find all sorts of things you need–ranging from the cafe lights you want accenting your reception to designer bridal gowns to photography services. Craigslist is a bride’s thrift store. Yes, you will find plenty of things that make you gasp and think “Oh my!” But just like Antique Roadshow, you can find items that will make your wedding look anything but cheap and without the plastic. Furthermore, you can utilize the service after the wedding to help another bride in need and recover some money. Be wary of scammers, though. Use your judgement, and NEVER wire money and always purchase things face to face.
2.) You can’t please everyone so let them please themselves.
One of the biggest expenses to a wedding is always catering. And, it’s amazing how everyone will have an opinion over the catering you choose. With all the picky eaters and people with food allergies, you are sure to not satisfy everyone. So what can you possibly do? Potluck. Of course you can think of a fancy way of saying it to make everyone more comfortable with the idea. But a Potluck Catering plan can uniquely 
allow your guest to take part in the memories of your wedding with their own personal expression. Everyone can create dishes according to their desires and explore other dishes that are waiting to be a hit amongst your family and friends. Those bringing dishes could also provide a card with the recipe on it. Put them in a box or photo album for a newlywed cookbook! And the best part? You just cut out one of the biggest expenses and saved yourself a hell of a lot of headache while still having an amazing memorable reception dinner. And truthfully, no one will remember the food anyway, so why pay top dollar for something utterly forgettable? Spend it on the honeymoon!
3.) With every passing there is a new beginning.
People are born with nothing and they die leaving everything behind. Why is this good for you? Have a Green Wedding by going to Estate Sales and finding some things old and some things blue for your wedding at a price that can’t be beat. Enjoy the circle of life by recycling! Vintage is always in style.
Steal Your Wedding: Vegas Edition
Vegas weddings! So much excitement at one time. The bright lights, the city, your love. What more could you want from a wedding? Savings? Vegas has that too. Keep reading to find out why Vegas could be your dream budget wedding.
Let’s cover the obvious – Vegas weddings cut out a lot of expenses from your wedding, not to mention the headache of planning. Most couples forego the traditional wedding attire and opt for something cool and casual. You are, after all, getting married in the heat of Vegas so pack for light and airy. Also cut out is the expense of a large wedding party and guest list. If you choose to have guests, keep it small as most chapels are a bit smaller and cater to small weddings. In addition to this, wedding chapels are just this – wedding chapels. We will discuss affordable reception options in a later post, but it is not expected that you have a reception following your chapel wedding. Go out and gamble to celebrate instead!
Wedding + Honeymoon = Savings. Another thing you will be saving on is travel. Can’t decide where to honeymoon? You don’t need to, you have all your fun waiting for you in Vegas – even down in your hotel’s casino. Not into gambling? There are thousands of other things to do in Las Vegas besides gambling! What’s great about this scenario is that you can start your honeymoon immediately after your wedding – no travel involved.
All-inclusive. Like so many things in Vegas, there are many wedding packages which roll all your fun and love together into an affordable all-inclusive package. And by all-inclusive I mean at the very least most packages will provide you with transportation from your hotel to the chapel, a chapel, officiant, music, flowers and pictures. This basic package will run you about $300 at most chapels. The best part? You can pre-order them online or wait until the very last minute. It’s Vegas!! The possibilities are endless. These packages range from wedding in the mountains to helicopter nuptials. Don’t know where to start with your planning? Visit our vendor list and search by location to find many options in Las Vegas.
We’ll break down exactly what your different options are for Vegas ceremonies and receptions on a budget, but this will get you started now and you could possibly be married this time tomorrow. Vegas, baby, Vegas! (Swingers – Netflix it immediately).
Steal Your Wedding: Invitations
How is it even possible that we’ve gone this long without discussing how to save on wedding invitations? Not quite sure. Unlike save-the-dates and wedding announcements, wedding invitations are not something you can forego. How do we save and invite at the same time?
Check out the DIY kits. There are endless supplies of DIY kits out there. In your crafty stores, in your chain stores, in your gift stores, and online. There is an endless supply of them and doing it yourself can really save you money! Before you consider this option, thoroughly do your research on the product. And my suggestion is to buy more than you need. You are bound to mess up on a couple (you’re human) and you don’t’ want to run out prematurely.
See what you can cut out. It’s tempting to load up on the paper when you’re ordering your invitations. And I understand, you want everything to match. Adding the menu, directions to the ceremony and reception, link to your wedding website, etc. Really, the basics that you need are – the invitation page itself, the RSVP card, and the envelope for the RSVP card.
Check for hidden costs. They aren’t hidden when you ask about what each thing will cost you. Even when you suspect it won’t. Want a different color ink? Want your return address printed on the envelope? Ask about it! Most likely, anything different than what you are presented as basic will be extra. That includes a more sturdy paper or adding ribbon. You don’t be sorry that you asked!
Let’s touch on some things that I don’t think are a good idea (personally).
Evites, emails, facebook invitations are certainly ways to cut out the cost of the paper invitation, but I don’t think we need to go that far. I may be an old-fashioned gal, but I think that if you are sending out wedding invitations, it must be done through paper. Keep in mind that this is most people’s first impression of your wedding – and we don’t want to send one that’s tacky. You can jazz up an evite as much as possible, but it’s still going to come across as tacky. Try to avoid it.
Also, I think we can all agree that putting things inside the invitation that explode out (such as sparklies, sprinkles, confetti-like gems) not only cost you extra money, but it’s also a bit annoying for those opening it and now have a bunch of confetti to vacuum up. If they are anything like me, it’s already too late because the dog has wolfed down the majority of whatever just fell out of your invitation. It will likely cut a bit out of your expenses and a bit of annoyance from your guests.
Having trouble getting started? Check out our list of 290 wedding invitation vendors! Click on “Plan the wedding,” then select the vendor category of invitations and search by state to find one near you!
How did you do your wedding invitations? Let us know! Leave a comment or talk to @GetEngaged!
Steal Your Wedding: Vintage Weddings Part II
As promised, we are revisiting the idea of vintage weddings because there is just so much that can be said about them and many ideas that we had to make it a 2-parter. As we discussed before, vintage weddings are also great for a bride (and groom) on a budget which makes it close to our hearts. Because there are so many variations that can be considered a vintage style, this is great for allowing you to integrate your own creative style into your wedding. So it’s important to answer these questions: what style/era am I going for? What style suits me? We would love to hear what your favorite vintage eras and styles are. Keep reading for ideas of how to get going on your vintage wedding!
Wedding attire and accessories. Vintage wedding attire is all around you, if you look carefully. Have you ever seen a gorgeous, flowy wedding dress that just made you think, geeze, that would make a gorgeous wedding dress? Now is your chance! The perfect thing about vintage style dresses is that back in their original time, they were very casual, often short, lacy affairs. They were usually not the big production that they are today. So even if you find a dress that is not classified as an actual wedding dress, add some lace and pearls, and you have yourself a vintage dress find. This can also save you a bundle on dresses. When doing your dress shopping, keep your eye open for any great pearl jewelry pieces to add as a bracelet or extra lace you may see on other dresses. These can make great, simple veils and can be easily tailored into birdcage style hairpieces. Check out this site for some great vintage dresses. Any local suggestions from our different readers for great local finds?
Don’t stop at just the wedding. Get your guests into the vintage feel by vintaging- up your save the dates and invitations. You can collect and antique-y looking paper at flea markets or even your local markets if you get your timing right. What’s great about this is your invitations don’t all have to be exactly the same print/design to match because they will all have the vintage feel in common. Plus, unless your guests go around comparing invitations, none will be the wiser. Vintage Wedding has some great ideas on how to make your invitations super vintage if you go here.
Accessorize your reception. Hatboxes, pillboxes, antique trunks, birdcages, etc can be used both as decoration and functionality at your reception. Of course, you do not need to buy all of these items or even more than one to give your guests a feel of the vintage era and add a fun, decorative touch to your reception. You can use an antique trunk or trunks as a holder for guests to put their gifts in as they enter the venue. You can find a trunk of this kind at any antique store or flea market for a great price and it can be used over again as a home decoration. Open the trunk lid, and you have a great holding space for gifts, umbrellas (for guests if it’s raining), or bigger favors you may have in store for guests. Pillboxes & hatboxes will make great stackers for centerpieces or space fillers around your reception venue. If you are able to find a good number of birdcages, they can be repainted (or left in their original condition) and used as your centerpieces. Throw in some candles & mirrors on the inside or you can add your favorite flowers in a vase and put those birdcages to good use.
Keep in mind when doing your vintage shopping that you don’t need to have everything match exactly. You likely will not be able to accomplish that goal, although some of you perfectionists may have? Vintage is the perfect plan to mix and match your antique finds and throw back to that old time era!
Steal Your Wedding: Beach Edition
When you think beach getaway, I know the first thing that comes to mind is not usually savings. But when planning your wedding, a beach wedding – in certain areas and in certain ways – can actually end up saving you some cash. This is not necessarily true if you are thinking a Malibu or Hawaii wedding weekend but if you do it right, your beautiful beach wedding will be deceivingly affordable.
Ceremony cost. When you have your wedding on the beach, right away your ceremony cost goes way down. You will need to check the beach where you plan on wedding, but most states will charge you a small fee to use the space where you plan on exchanging vows. Most beaches will require you to get a permit in order to use the space and will give you more info on their requirements. This is a plus! It gets you well on your way to planning your wedding with your state park’s help. Another plus? Most beaches will have a maximum number of people you can invite so this will help (and force) you to keep your guest list under a certain number, which is one of the best ways to keep your wedding budget on track.
Take advantage of the sand and surf. Need decorations? No problem. The sand, shells, and ocean are all the decorations you need. I can’t think of any decorations that could be anymore beautiful than the ocean itself. Many brides decide to make an aisle out of seashells (free) and petals, which comes off looking beautifully against the sand. One problem that many brides encounter with outdoor weddings is how to get music going out there. Many beach brides find that the sound of the ocean is all the elegance they need when walking down the aisle. You may also find that if you are able to get music out to the beach, it will be overwhelmed and outdone by the waves. Save some money and let the breaking waves speak for themselves. It will probably be best not to compete with them.
Casual is in. Beach weddings require casual attire for both guests and attendants. Not only will this completely cut out the need to look for wedding shoes, but your wedding attire itself can consist of a casual suit and a light, airy wedding dress. Although you can still go for the traditional wedding dress you may have always dreamed of, you will definitely have the perfect excuse to kick off your heels and go for a dress as breezy as the beach itself.
Need some inspiration for a DIY budget beach wedding? Check out the RockNRoll Bride blog for great pictures and ideas. A beach wedding gives you a great opportunity to be super creative and also do away with many essentials required for indoor and formal weddings. Take advantage and budget away!
If you had a beach wedding you would like to share with us, please post below!
Steal Your Wedding: Vintage Edition
Although you may think that vintage weddings are only for those of us wearing hipster jeans and long bangs covering our eyes, you could not be more wrong! It is also for those of you out there that would like a classy and elegant wedding on a budget. Going vintage is not only a great way to save money, but it’s a great way to throw back to a more elegant and simple time, thus giving you an excuse to have an ultra-simple wedding. One major plus of a vintage wedding? Almost everything you need it going to be borrowed. That’s the point of vintage! It’s not from this time frame. It also allows you to be super creative and go on all kinds of adventures finding your vintage wedding pieces. So where do you start?
Check your markets. This includes flea, farmer, and any other kind of market that can have good priced, inexpensive and quirky finds. You can collect all kinds of beautiful votives for your centerpieces along with assorted flowers and glass to liven up the table. You will often find tablecloths, linens, and other drapery that can be used as a backdrop or as tablecloths or chair coverings. There really is no end to the things you can find at markets so before you go, make a clear list of the things you are looking for. Because if you start buying every cute, vintage thing you find there, you will eventually go over budget. You can also find gobs of great paper products at different
markets. Even if your papers are mismatched, they can make great seating cards or invitation pieces. More ideas on vintage centerpiece/decoration ideas to come later.
Check your consignments. Really want to get into the vintage feel? You can find great wedding dresses and suits at reputable consignment stores. The key is diligence. Just because you go there one time and find nothing does not mean that next week they won’t have something amazing! So keep hunting and don’t give up. Also, check with the store’s owner or manager and see if they have a waiting list for items. Often, if you check in with them when you aren’t finding an
item that you want, even if they won’t hold it for you if something does come in that you’re looking for, they will call you for first dibs. Consignment stores also have great finds for shoes, veils, and jewelry.
Check your gramma. Often, the best wedding finds are hiding right under your nose, or in gramma’s attic. If she is willing (or any other relatives that have indicated they would like to share) ask to see her wedding dress/veil/jewelry to see if it will fit the style you are going for. You will find that many times the item(s) will need to be altered so everyone should be open to changes from the beginning. If your relative seems hesitant, do not proceed. If everyone is willing, you can get your something borrowed as well as a great looking vintage wedding dress all in one bundle.
Vintage weddings have a great style to them and great character. This goes well with a great price and easy budget. If you are into the DIY route, this is definitely a wedding style I would recommend! Always keep your eyes open for used products and you never know what you could find!
If you had a vintage wedding, share your vintage style with us!
Steal Your Wedding: Venue Time
A huge portion of your budget (I feel like I say that every time) will be going towards whatever venue you choose. This goes for your ceremony as well as your reception venue so you will need to plan for both. Because so much of your budget will in fact be going to these venues, you will need to do this planning first, right after choosing your date. But how do you factor venues into a tight budget? It can be done.
Get tented. Not only can tents be beautiful for your wedding reception, they can also make a great location for your ceremony as well. Just ask Andy Bernard. If you haven’t seen what tents can do in terms of making a breathtaking venue, visit Weddings, Tents & Events for a taste of what can be done. Tents are a perfect setting for outdoor weddings. You can have your ceremony outside overlooking a mountain or in the middle of a meadow. Then for your reception, move onto your gorgeous tent with all the amenities. Your tent can be much more affordable than a traditional wedding reception venue as well as provide guests with a new experience. Another advantage of this is that most tent rental companies are able to provide just about everything you need for your entire reception at a much lower price since you are going through them. Need tables? Tablecloths? Heaters on a chilly night? They’ve got you covered. It’s worth checking into whether your wedding is lavish or casual. Tents also work as a great plan B for outdoor wedding events.
Ceremony + Reception = savings. When you use the same location for your ceremony and reception, you end up saving on all your wedding needs. If a florist and decorator need to travel to two different places in order to do their job, they will often charge you for this. Which is understandable. They will also need more supplies than if they were decorating just one place. This will also cut down on your rental fees as well as transportation costs. No need to hire a limo if you can simply walk to your next venue site!
Beat the crowds. One option on saving with venues is picking a less popular day. This may not fit the need of all your guests, but if you are working on a tight budget it’s certainly something to consider. Ask your vendors and venue coordinators if they offer discounts on weekdays/Sundays for your wedding date. If this is not an option, consider getting married in a less popular month like during the colder seasons (don’t get too close to Christmas or Valentines, you tread into popular waters here!). To encourage people during their slow times, they often offer discounts for this. Don’t be afraid to ask!
Saving on a venue is not easy, so you need to be a bit creative. Wedding venue coordinators know how valuable their space is and definitely know how to take advantage of this. So use some of your own tools to get some of your budget back. Think outside the box and consider a tent! If you were able to save money on your location, feel free to share your insight on how!
Steal Your Wedding: Can we save on wedding attire? (Part II)
Now it’s the groom’s turn. Although in the past we have considered the groom’s attire to be pretty standard: tux….these days, the wedding attire game is changing and prices are changing with it. What the groom is expected to wear is becoming more flexible and so are prices. And in these times, that is A-Ok.
Don’t be afraid to rent. I know that renting tuxedos has gotten a bit of a bad reputation. And rightfully so, you can usually tell a rented tuxedo from a mile away. However, finding a great rental can save you a bundle when getting a tuxedo – you just have to know where to look. A great place that offers tuxedo rentals with style is Men’s Wearhouse. Not only are their tuxedo rentals super affordable, but they also offer style advice as well as an online application that helps you build your own tux from scratch so you know it’s perfectly catered for your wedding.
Let’s get modern. Even if you will be wearing a tuxedo, don’t feel like you have to do the whole she-bang. You can pair your own shirt and tie with a tuxedo for a more modern look. Encourage your groomsmen to do the same and pull your look together with a common color – such as everyone wearing the same color tie and shirt. You will all look perfectly put together and modern while still staying on budget. And no one will know!
Lose the tux. As weddings get more casual, so does your attire. Opting out of a tux in favor of a wool or linen suit will really be easy on your wallet. And it will still look great! You will also be much more likely to have a suit readily available in your closet than a tux. You will also notice that a lot of retailers – especially at this time of year have great sales and incentives you get you into a new suit. Take advantage of this! Once again, get yourself to Men’s Wearhouse. They have sales regularly on great looking suits, which are already pretty affordable.
Not into tuxedos? Take advantage of the economy and go for something more affordable like a great breathable linen suit. If your wedding does call for something more formal, don’t say no to a rental. A great rented tux will really make the difference when you are trying to save on your wedding. Just take a step back and say to yourself, “does this look like a rental?” If it does, keep looking. It will be worth it in your savings!
Steal Your Wedding: Can we save on wedding attire?
We certainly can! Although when it comes to saving money on your wedding the last thing we really think about is cutting corners on our wedding dress, it can be done! And I definitely am not suggesting at all that you not pick your dream wedding dress. I think one of the most important things you pick for your wedding (besides the groom) is your dress. It is one of the most exciting things ever and was one of my favorite parts of the wedding planning process. But when you are working on a tight budget, the wedding dress can take up a huge chunk of your money. And, its one of the hardest things to control because we have such visions of how we want to look on our big day. Below are some suggestions for keeping that dress budget under control.
Running of the brides. Filene’s Basement is famous for 2 main things – their designer dresses and “running of the brides!” They have several locations where you can run with the best of them if you’re willing to go through the chaos that ensues. What you could possibly get is your dream designer dress for an incredible discount price. Many brides come to Filene’s in hopes of getting their brand name dress and achieve this goal! If you are looking for a location to run to near you, visit their website here: http://filenes.weddingwire.com/. One word of caution is to closely inspect your dress if doing any sort of Running of the Brides, whether it be Filene’s or any bridal store advertising a clearance/discount offering. The sales will most often be final, so inspect your dress for any flaws or obvious problems. Keep in mind that you can have the dress altered if you find your dream dress with a small tear or other issue.
Keep your eye on sweepstakes, contests. As you will see on the Filene’s website, there is a current contest available for you to win your dream dress at no cost to you! This is a common occurrence if you visit sites such as WeddingWire.com, WeddingChannel.com, etc. Bookmark these wedding websites and many others and keep your eye on contest updates! Be sure to only get involved in reputable sites and check reviews of any contests or sweepstakes that you may enter to be sure you aren’t going to be taken for a ride. You could certainly save a bundle if you were to win your wedding dress, but be careful with the contests you enter as well as the information you give out in any entry forms.
Saving on your wedding dress is one of the best ways to save on your wedding! The prices can get quite exorbitant for this one time dress. I definitely understand wanting to go all out for this special dress! If you do try the Running of the Brides or a contest, be sure to protect yourself in both instances. Be careful with what you buy as well as committing to anything in a contest. Don’t settle for anything less than the dress of your dreams!
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